Sri Lanka

COLOMBO, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka will ban several plastic products from June, a spokesman said here on Tuesday. Cabinet spokesman Bandura Gunawardena ...

[Contact Us](http://en.people.cn/102840/8347260.html) [Join Us](http://english.people.com.cn/n3/2020/0326/c90000-9672920.html) 14 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka will ban several plastic products from June, a spokesman said here on Tuesday.

Single use plastic straws, stirring utensils, spoons, yoghurt spoons, (excluding yogurt cups), forks, knives, plastic flower garlands, plastic string hopper ...

Pakistan has an ESG Relevance Score of ‘5’ for political stability and rights, as WBGIs have the highest weight in Fitch’s SRM and are therefore highly relevant to the rating and a key rating driver with a high weight. As Pakistan has a percentile rank below 50 for the respective governance indicator, this has a negative impact on the credit profile. Pakistan participated in the Debt Service Suspension Initiative in 2020, and had earlier restructurings of public debt in 2001 and 1998. As Pakistan has a percentile rank below 50 for the respective governance indicators, this has a negative impact on the credit profile. This means ESG issues are credit-neutral or have only a minimal credit impact on the entity, either due to their nature or to the way in which they are being managed by the entity. Funding in the Pipeline: In addition to remaining IMF disbursements of USD2.5 billion, Pakistan stands to receive USD3.5 billion from other multilaterals in FY23 after agreement with the IMF is reached. While we assume a successful conclusion of the 9th review of Pakistan’s IMF programme, the downgrade also reflects large risks to continued programme performance and funding, including in the run-up to this year’s elections. The prime minister has repeatedly expressed the intention to remain in the programme. We understand that completion of the review hinges on additional front-loaded revenue measures and increases to regulated electricity and fuel prices. Further Worsening in Liquidity, Policy Risks: The downgrade reflects further sharp deterioration in external liquidity and funding conditions, and the decline of foreign-exchange (FX) reserves to critically low levels. Large Refinancing Risks: External public-debt maturities in the remainder of the fiscal year ending June 2023 (FY23) amount to over USD7 billion and will remain high in FY24. If domestic credit falls and no more liquidity injections are made, the State Bank of Pakistan would be able to re-peg and collect reserves.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka's Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal to ban the importation, domestic manufacture, sale and local use of a - Get the ...

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China has expressed support for Sri Lanka ahead of a meeting of lenders to poor economies but gave no indication if it might help to cut debts that have ...

Last April, then-opposition leader Wickremesinghe told broadcaster Republic TV that China offered a $1 billion loan instead of reducing Sri Lanka’s debt. The total debt of poor countries is rising, increasing the risk that others might run into trouble. “We are in direct discussions with China," President Rani Wickremesinghe said last week in a speech to parliament. Chinese officials are due to attend a meeting of lenders organized by the IMF and the Paris Club of government creditors. The island nation of 22 million people ran out of foreign currency last year. China accounts for about 10% of Sri Lanka’s $51 billion foreign debt.

With China yet to support IMF-Paris Club 's debt sustainability analysis over loan moratorium and debt restructuring, Sri Lanka may come out empty handed ...

The political climate of Sri Lanka will remain uncertain but the first indicator of the extent of ferment will be the local elections next month. With Chinese EXIM bank only willing to extend a two year debt moratorium to Colombo as of now, the Sri Lankan economy will hit the rock bottom soon or else IMF will have to give loan on arrears with further stringent conditions. Under the circumstances, the IMF can either give loan on arrears and then wait for China to come on board by IMF spring meeting or later this year.

The International Monetary Fund will meet with creditors of Sri Lanka and other debt troubled nations, including China, India and Paris Club to plug gaps in ...

Ecuador is also due to participate in the talks on Friday the report said. Sri Lanka’s IMF deal is currently in the balance pending an undertaking from China to re-structure debt in line with the requirements of the Fund. ECONOMYNEXT – The International Monetary Fund will meet with creditors of Sri Lanka and other debt troubled nations, including China, India and Paris Club to plug gaps in the current debt re-structuring framework, a media report said.

China is willing to work with relevant countries and international financial institutions to continue playing an active role in helping Sri Lanka address ...

The China EximBank also expressed support for Sri Lanka in applying for a loan from the International Monetary Fund and said it will help the Sri Lankan side to continue calling on commercial creditors to provide equal and comparable debt treatment and push multilateral creditors to do their best to make corresponding contributions, Wang said. Recently, the Export-Import Bank of China (China EximBank), as a bilateral official creditor, has issued financial support documents to Sri Lanka's finance ministry, expressing a willingness to extend Sri Lanka's debt, due in 2022 and 2023 and help to ease the short-term debt repayment pressure. Regarding Sri Lanka's debts related to China, Wang said China has always supported its financial institutions in negotiating with the Sri Lankan side to properly resolve the issue.

Sri Lanka plans to give triple super phosphate (TSP) fertilizer at below market cost to farmers for the 2023 minor (Yala) cultivation season, ...

Minister of Agriculture Mahinda Amaraweera had said TSP would be provided at a “lower price than the current market rate for the upcoming Yala season, through a gazette notification,” the statement said. The Department of Agriculture had said at the meeting that reduced use of TSP in the last cultivation season had caused yellowing of paddy plants. Presidential Chief of Staff Sagala Ratnayake had said farmers should be provided with opportunity to purchase fertilizer at a lower rate this year than in the previous season at a discussion with chemical and organic fertilizer companies.

COLOMBO, Feb. 15 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe on Wednesday said he is hopeful that Sri Lanka will receive the International ...

He said that Sri Lanka reached a preliminary agreement with the IMF to receive an extended fund facility (EFF) program in 2022. Addressing an event organized by a private university in Colombo, the president said the Sri Lankan economy is now stabilizing and it will be able to begin the debt restructuring process soon. 15 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe on Wednesday said he is hopeful that Sri Lanka will receive the International Monetary Fund (IMF) board approval for a 2.9 billion U.S.

The latest Tweet by DD News states, '#IMF to meet with creditors of #SriLanka and other debt troubled nations this Friday to plug gaps in the current debt ...

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Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe on Wednesday said he is hopeful that the country will receive the International Monetary Fund (IMF) board approval ...

[Sri Lanka ](https://www.ibtimes.co.in/confirmed-former-president-gotabaya-rajapaksa-return-sri-lanka-aug-24-851420)suspended external debt repayment in April 2022 and entered negotiations with the IMF for a bailout package. [IMF ](https://www.ibtimes.co.in/imf-slashes-indias-2022-growth-forecast-further-down-8-2-7-4-850801)to receive an extended fund facility (EFF) program in 2022. Addressing an event organised by a private university in Colombo, the president said the Sri Lankan economy is now stabilising and it will be able to begin the debt restructuring process soon, Xinhua News Agency reported.

China's EXIM Bank has issued a letter granting Sri Lanka a two-year moratorium on repayment and agreeing with the IMF's Extended Fund Facility (EFF).

Because when you want something that bad, nothing — not even a 12-hour bus ride in January — is going to stop you.” "China's EXIM bank has the bilateral creditor as extended a support document for Sri Lankan debt. Last month, China gave [Sri Lanka](/topic/sri-lanka)the financing assurances required by the [International Monetary Fund](/topic/international-monetary-fund)(IMF) to unlock a USD 2.9 billion bailout package for the country, days after India strongly backed the island nation's efforts to secure the loan from the global lender to recover from its worst-ever economic crisis. Sri Lankan officials said that China is not willing to follow the debt sustainability analysis (DSA) targets set by the IMF for Sri Lanka to obtain the loan, unwilling to give a moratorium on the island nation's debt beyond two years which may not be enough. China supports Sri Lanka to apply for IMF loans, call on creditors to offer comparable debt solutions and China is doing its best to call on multilateral creditors to do their best to solve the Sri Lankan issue," he said. Sri Lankan officials, however, said that China's offer is not the same as a written assurance to the IMF and it may not be enough for the IMF board to approve the committed USD 2.9 billion provisional package for Sri Lanka.

China's EXIM Bank has issued a letter granting Sri Lanka a two-year moratorium on repayment and agreeing with the IMF's Extended Fund Facility (EFF).

"China's EXIM bank has the bilateral creditor as extended a support document for Sri Lankan debt. Last month, China gave [Sri Lanka](/topic/sri-lanka)the financing assurances required by the [International Monetary Fund](/topic/international-monetary-fund)(IMF) to unlock a USD 2.9 billion bailout package for the country, days after India strongly backed the island nation's efforts to secure the loan from the global lender to recover from its worst-ever economic crisis. Sri Lankan officials said that China is not willing to follow the debt sustainability analysis (DSA) targets set by the IMF for Sri Lanka to obtain the loan, unwilling to give a moratorium on the island nation's debt beyond two years which may not be enough. China supports Sri Lanka to apply for IMF loans, call on creditors to offer comparable debt solutions and China is doing its best to call on multilateral creditors to do their best to solve the Sri Lankan issue," he said. Sri Lankan officials, however, said that China's offer is not the same as a written assurance to the IMF and it may not be enough for the IMF board to approve the committed USD 2.9 billion provisional package for Sri Lanka. [China](/topic/china)on Wednesday said it supports debt-trapped Sri Lanka's efforts to get the much-needed [IMF](/topic/imf)bailout facility but parried questions on reports that it will not follow the global lender's [debt](/definition/debt)reduction targets for it to clear the relief package.

Beijing is resisting cuts to Sri Lanka's debts for fear other borrowers will want similar relief.

“We are in direct discussions with China,” President Rani Wickremesinghe said last week in a speech to parliament. The total debt of poor countries is rising, increasing the risk that others might run into trouble. The China Export-Import Bank last month offered Sri Lanka a two-year repayment suspension. Chinese officials are due to attend a meeting of lenders organized by the IMF and the Paris Club of government creditors. That is an obstacle to obtaining an emergency loan from the International Monetary Fund, which wants other creditors to agree to debt reductions. Beijing is one of Sri Lanka’s biggest creditors after Colombo borrowed under President Xi Jinping’s Belt and Road Initiative to expand trade by building ports and other facilities.

CNMI junior netters LaHunn Lam and Hannah Chae kicked off their campaign with the Pacific Oceania Team in the 2023 ITF World Teams Competition Asia/Oceania ...

It excites me to meet top players from the different countries and play the matches.” The super tiebreaker was very crazy and the boys were pumped. They went up 6-5 and lost the next game so they played a tiebreaker, which they won.” Lam and company gave a better account of themselves against Bangladesh despite losing the first two matches. “Finally, LaHunn was playing consistently well and his partner was too. Playing in Group C, Pacific Oceania’s U14 boys team went through a buzzsaw against Kyrgyzstan.

England Lions 231 for 6 (Hain 52, Bethell 50, Cox 46, Hemantha 3-56) beat Sri Lanka A 230 all out (Samarawickrama 74, Arachchige 57, Chamika 52, ...

For a first game back and not knowing how it would go, I feel really good and chuffed with how it has gone. "One of their opening batters got given out lbw and stood there for a little longer than he should have and I just had a word with him. It was purely about outcome and performance and they came out nice. It got me going, and from there it was about the batters I was bowling at. To be honest, I just didn't want to look stupid out there. "I'm really happy," Mahmood said.

While Aahil Kaleel and Methika Wickramasinghe scored the singles wins, the former was joined by Pasidu Rukunayake to record the victory in the doubles. Results:.

Thomas’ Matara amass 378 against St. St. Meanwhile, in the other matches started on Wednesday, Thurstan were 142 for two wickets at stumps in reply to Mahinda’s 161 runs at Galle. Royal registered their last victory of the series in 2015 when Harith Samarasinghe was their captain, Trinity last won in the 2016 season when R.K. While 59 matches have ended in draws, there had also been a tie in the series. In reply, Ireland were skittled out for 95, with Nashra Sandhu picking up 4 for 18, delivering Pakistan’s first win in this World Cup. India continue to remain on top in the other three two formats – ODIs and T20Is – with the Men in Blue just one point ahead of world champions England (266) in T20Is. The ICC said the glitch was a technical error. As per the rankings on Wednesday afternoon, India were at No 1 position in the Tests with a rating of 115, while Australia followed them with four points less at 111. “Either they have done a serious goof-up or they have jumped the gun and neither is amusing,” said a BCCI official. The International Cricket Council (ICC) seems to have done a major ranking goof-up. The ITF event which started on Monday is taken part by 14 boys’ teams and eight girls’ teams.

It will soon be 14 years since the end of the civil war in Sri Lanka. The three-decade war that ended in May 2009 devastated the once peaceful and ...

However, the objective of the Government of India remains the repatriation of refugees to Sri Lanka; 99,469 refugees were repatriated to Sri Lanka up to March 1995 and no organised repatriation was done thereafter. What remains is a solution for the group which may consider India to be their home after a stay of decades. In line with the Global Compact on Refugees, India along with the international community has significantly contributed to building conditions within Sri Lanka for a safe and durable return. Since the end of the civil war, the Government of Sri Lanka, and development partners initiated programmes in the Northern and Eastern provinces, with objectives of resettlement, restoration of critical infrastructure, livelihoods and social services to the local population. The Government of India provided ₹1,226 crore for the relief and accommodation of refugees from July 1983 to March 31, 2022. The Government of Sri Lanka constituted the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission in 2010 “to look back at the conflict Sri Lanka suffered as well as to look ahead for an era of healing and peace building in the country”.

Thai auteur Apichatpong Weerasethakul has revealed plans to shoot a film in Sri Lanka, inspired by science fiction writer Arthur C. Clarke.

To make it longer is like a challenge”. “She speaks about climbing a holy mountain, the same one that inspired Clarke’s story, so I’m going to go check it out.” Referring to the Memoria shoot, he said: “In Colombia, it was more complicated because of the bigger production, the language. What would be the same as in Colombia is the mode of not knowing what you want.” He plans to start location scouting in Sri Lanka next month and said he hopes the project will be “more flexible” than his last film. “It’s the same old gang.”

France stands ready to support Sri Lanka in its efforts to restructure its debt, Ambassador for France His Excellency Jean-François Pactet announced at a ...

During a roundtable discussion the SLFBC discussed the potential for further developing business linkages and addressed the challenges to bilateral trade and investment in the current economic context, as well as the role the private sector can play in overcoming these challenges. Attended by the Ambassador Designate of Sri Lanka to France Mrs. President of the SLFBC Mr.

As for his inspirations, he's looking toward sci-fi author and 2001: A Space Odyssey co-writer Arthur C. Clarke. “He lived and died in Sri Lanka, and one of his ...

It’s a mass market product, and I admire that aspect which only Hollywood can do.” [The Fountains of Paradise](https://amzn.to/3E5zaQU), is set in a fictional land based on a Sri Lankan landscape,” the director said. She speaks about climbing a holy mountain, the same one that inspired Clarke’s story, so I’m going to go check it out.” “I wrote a treatment for a three- or four-hour movie, just from my imagination, from what I dream about,” he said. [Metrograph](https://metrograph.com/apichatpongweerasethakul/) ahead of a 35mm run starting Friday, the director revealed he plans to team with a streamer for the film. “He lived and died in Sri Lanka, and one of his books,

Sri Lanka is in the midst of its worst financial crisis in seven decades and must put its massively indebted public finances in order to unlock an IMF loan.

The scale of the price rise will heap misery on Sri Lankans already struggling with inflation running at 54.2%. "We know that this will be hard on the public, especially the poor but Sri Lanka is caught in a financial crisis and we have no choice but to move towards cost reflective pricing," Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera told reporters. Sri Lanka increased electricity prices by 66% on Thursday, in a move that the government hoped would persuade the International Monetary Fund to provide urgent support for its crisis stricken economy.

Sri Lanka's electricity regulator has approved a 65% hike in electricity tariffs effective from Wednesday, a government source told Reuters.

The Sri Lanka Public Utilities Commission, the country's power regulator, approved the government's request for a 65% hike on Wednesday, the source said. Feb 15 (Reuters) - Sri Lanka's electricity regulator has approved a 65% hike in electricity tariffs effective from Wednesday, a government source told Reuters. Sri Lanka regulator approves 65% hike in electricity tariffs: govt source